How We Worship

Every Sunday, Saint Stephen’s is a busy place, starting quietly with the 7:30 a.m. service. Additional services follow at 9 and 11:15 a.m. as well as at 5 p.m. The 9 a.m. service is generally regarded as a family service, with the largest number of parishioners attending, but nearly as many worshippers attend at 11:15.

While the 7:30 service has no music, the adult choir (and, at times, the children’s, junior, youth and/or hand bell choirs) sings at 9 and 11:15, accompanied by our grand piano and sometimes other instruments. A folk group provides music at the 5 p.m. service. (For more details on music as a part of our worship, please see the “Our Music” below.) Wednesdays at 11 a.m., Saint Stephen’s offers a healing service.

Worship is our source of strength. We value simple worship that centers on the Gospel and the Holy Eucharist. We offer an Open Table and invite everyone to participate in communion. We all come together in our friendly and informal worship space and then go out into the world, commonly refreshed, with the ability to demonstrate God’s love.

All services at Saint Stephen’s are governed by the Book of Common Prayer. Worship is generally centered on the simple yet powerful liturgy of the Holy Eucharist (Rite II). For many, the Eucharist is central to their faith, and a high point of their worship at Saint Stephen’s.

We offer a variety of special services throughout the year, including our Youth Sundays, which are led exclusively by our teenagers. Our Empty Tomb service brings the whole congregation together by consolidating our four Sunday services into one for all members. Our love of Camp McDowell is reflected in our biannual Camp Sunday service, when we wear camp clothes and sing camp songs. These services as well as special services at Christmas, Easter, and Lent bring exceptional spiritual meaning to our parishioners.

At present, however, as we prepare for a new rector, we have an Interim Rector, an Associate Rector and an Interim Associate Rector.

Numerous adult and youth volunteers are spiritually nourished by their service on the Altar and Flower guilds and as ushers, acolytes, lectors, and Lay Eucharistic Ministers each Sunday. Members of the Healing Intercessory Ministry are available during the 9 and 11:15 services on Sunday mornings to pray with parishioners for their needs or the needs of their loved ones. Prayers for healing, guidance, or gratitude lift parishioners gently, while they are surrounded by the love and beauty of our church.